Along with the late David McCallumMark Harmon is probably the actor most often associated with the "NCIS" franchise. His character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, debuted on "JAG" before going on to grace 19 seasons of "NCIS." As of writing, Gibbs is also the only character to receive his own prequel series, which we'll cover in more detail later. In short, however, Harmon is the poster child for this franchise, which is why fans were shocked when he parted ways with the hit procedural in 2021.

Harmon was in his 70s when he left "NCIS," but he didn't quit because he wanted to retire and enjoy the fruits of his labor. In fact, the Gibbs star stayed on board as executive producer and has been busy working on some passion projects. He then returned to the "NCIS" universe in a more significant capacity, though it's far from the type of full screen role most fans would like to see. With that in mind, let's find out why Harmon left "NCIS" and what he's been up to during his absence.

As previously mentioned, Mark Harmon never fully left "NCIS." At the time, both the actor and the show's creators felt that Leroy Jethro Gibbs' story had reached its natural end, but Harmon's behind-the-scenes role ensured that he was still involved in the show's development.

"I always paid creative attention to the writing room on that show," said the actor Paradecommenting on his decision to leave "NCIS" in 2024. "It wasn't so much a decision to leave as it was maybe the right time to step away a little bit," he explained, adding that he knew the show would go on because "NCIS" is bigger than any one actor.

What's more, parting ways with the long-running crime drama allowed Harmon more time to expand his artistic repertoire. In 2023, he was a co-author "Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, a Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor" which presents historical accounts of real-life espionage and naval intelligence. In a way, it's the perfect companion to a theme often explored on "NCIS."

Fans will be pleased to know that Harmon remains part of the fabric of the universe that made him a mainstay of network television. At the same time, a desire to reduce his professional responsibilities was a motivating factor in his decision to retire from "NCIS."

Mark Harmon accepted the role of Leroy Jethro Gibbs hoping to find a better work-life balance. However, the actor quickly learned that he would have to spend long days on set, which really took its toll over time. In the previous interview with "The Kelly Clarkson Show" Harmon revealed that he was exhausted when he left "NCIS" and wanted to spend more time with his loved ones:

“I think for the longest time I was just tired. Part of taking the job (included) was being at home, with a young family, not traveling as much to make movies. The first day we worked 22 hours. So I thought. It's not quite what I thought it would be.' But we had a lot of days like that in the first four years."

Fortunately, the time away allowed Harmon to recharge his batteries and return for "NCIS: Origins," a prequel series about his character during his early days on the team. With that in mind, what motivated the veteran actor to give up more time at home and reprise his role as Gibbs?

While I was retired NCIS stars such as Pauly Perrett have vowed never to return to actingMark Harmon never hung up his boots. In fact, he returned to the procedural franchise not long after calling it quits, providing narration for the elder Gibbs for "NCIS: Origins." Austin Stowell's younger iteration of the agent is the star of the prequel, but Harmon's character's voice is present in every episode. He also has a few cameo appearances, which is better than no screen role at all, right?

Discussing his decision to return for a prequel with Diversity in 2024, Harmon revealed that he actually pitched the idea to showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Montreal. The actor believed there were more Gibbs stories to tell, and a prequel series allowed them to change things up. In your own words:

“I couldn't be more excited for Gina and David, who they represent and their history with his show. They were the best I've ever worked with on that show, and I love what they've done and what they've done. hard and I tried to push for it. My job is to try to protect it."

Unfortunately, "NCIS: Origins" was greenlit at the same time CBS Cancels 'NCIS: Hawaii' which led to some pressure from fans who wanted the franchise to continue with new characters. While people were happy to see Harmon back in the saddle, it probably came at the expense of another fan favorite series. That said, "NCIS: Origins" provides some closure for those who weren't happy with Gibbs' send-off in the show's flagship.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs' latest case is being handled by Paul Lemaire (Jason Wiles), a hit man with ties to a corrupt company called Sonova Industries. Essentially, Lemaire was hired by the corporation to kill anyone who risked revealing its dark secrets and the dangers it posed to the environment. The case takes Gibbs to Alaska, where he takes down the corrupt CEO of Lemer and Sonova, albeit at the cost of his own freedom.

Gibbs' investigation shows him taking the law into his own hands, turning him into a wanted fugitive. Instead of trying to clear his name after solving the case, he decides to retire from the NCIS team and stay in Alaska. The story ends with him fishing and writing in his journal — hobbies he continues to pursue in the present day on "NCIS: Origins."

Despite technically being a criminal, Gibbs' story ended on a happy note. Fishing has always brought him peace of mind and he seems content to be away from the dangerous world of hunting criminals. However, with Harmon still involved in the franchise, the door is always open for Gibbs to potentially solve more cases down the line.